The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association Inc.

Pictures and Testimonials                           

Guy Fawkes Heritage Horses are versatile, adaptable, hardy and intelligent and suit a wide range of different disciplines.

Below are some testimonials and pictures from very happy GFHH owners.

If you are the owner of a GFHH and would like to tell us about him/her, please contact the webmaster kateeyoung@bigpond.com

 

 

  'Guy Fawkes Kora' and Kristen

July 2010

 

I came to find the Guy Fawkes Website when I was searching the internet to buy a young horse. Although I had owned horses for 18 years, I really knew very little about the Australian Brumbies. As I read about their plight and history I became more and more interested in the bred and when I went onto the For Sale page Guy Fawkes Sandstone caught my eye. I contacted Erica from the Association and she spent a lot of time helping me with all the questions I had about buying a Brumby. From here it was all organised over the phone, including having my Brumby started in a halter, trained to load onto the truck and trucked to Sydney all in a couple of days. ( All of which I can recommend to anyone)

It took me a good couple of weeks to actually name my Brumby, finally I choose Kora, an Aboriginal word for companion. I have had him for a month now and he never ceases to amaze me. Erica had told me when I first spoke to her that they were a one person horse, this is so true. He spent the first couple of weeks hiding behind me when anyone else came over. He is not so shy anymore, but still very much a one person horse.

The part I am enjoying the most is that they have had no negative human experiences and once you gain their trust they will do anything for you. Kora takes anything in his stride and has made huge progress in such a short time.
It only took a couple of days before I could walk straight up to him and put the halter on, now he walks to me when I call him. He has learned how to lunge, pick up his feet, tie to the fence, walk over the jump poles and stand next to the mounting crate while I lean on his back.
Some of his more fun tricks include wearing a tarp over his back, playing with his big soccer ball, pulling a little toy cart along next to him and stealing the kids toys from over the fence. He has even had 2 year old Issey climb onto his back and did not care at all.
He is very inquisitive and loves to hang over the fence for pats with the kids. People are always shocked when they realise that 'he' is the Brumby. He is doing a great job of showing people what friendly, calm and reliable horses the Brumbies are.

I would like to thank the great staff from Guy Fawkes Heritage Horses for all their help and advice with Kora, and I will keep you posted on our progress.

Kristen

 

 

Alexa Courtney and 'Guy Fawkes Ebony'

 GF Ebony is a lovely, pure black filly that was purchased early in 2008 by Alexa of Ballarat Victoria. Ebony has recently been started under saddle and also in harness and was given glowing reports from the breaker. She took everything in her stride and showed no signs of bucking, kicking or bad temper at anytime. GF Ebony is a much loved member of Alexa's family and its planned that Ebony have a career as a harness pony and Children's mount.

 

Anna Henry and 'Shades of Tharra'

My name is Anna Henry, I'm 17yrs old and live in Bellingen, NSW. I purchased a palomino GFHH gelding named 'Shades of Tharra' (AKA Thoura) when he was just 16 months old. Thoura is now 7yrs of age and is going great! He has done some work with Digby Foster and also with Sharron Foster of Horses Naturally plus my sister and myself. Thoura is strong, quiet and a very mature horse with a lovely nature. He works well with children and loves attention from people. I am hoping to take Thoura to the 2010 Bellingen Show.

Thanks,

Anna Henry 

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 'Heritage Queenie'  and  Chloe Thomas.

Chloe purchased 'Heritage Queenie' from Digby and Helen Foster as a 2yr old filly.  Chloe and Queen formed a strong bond quickly and, at 11yrs of age, with help from her Mum, Annette, and from Digby Foster, Chloe has started Queen under saddle. Chloe and Queen  now attend Pony Club rally days, have competed at Interschool competitions and Agriculture Shows in both halter ad under saddle with wins and placing including reserve Championships.  'Heritage Queenie' was the 2009 GFHHA High-Point trophy winner for GFHH shown by a Jnr.

 

 

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 Valery Trails and Horse riding Centre

'Guy Fawkes Flash Jack' and 'Guy Fawkes Flash Dance'

 

 

 'Guy Fawkes Flash Jack' and 'Guy Fawkes FlashDance' came to us several years ago as freindly young geldings who have grown into two very strong, reliable and mature horses. Upon their arrival they spent several months growing up and learning to fit in with already established herd we have at Valery Trails and Horseriding Centre.

Then they took a trip together to Macksville to meet with the trainer/breaker, Keith Coombes, who did an excellent job with them both and returned them back to us in a few weeks as ready-to-ride horses. Both boys were then ridden most days of the week by our trail guides, as they assisted in taking riders of all levels of ability on guided trail rides. Their rock hard feet and hardy natures make them both the kind of horse that will go all day, and be up bright and early the next morning!
 
After several months of trail riding work they were slowly introduced to arena activities such as dressage, games and jumping. 'GF Flash Jack' really excelled at cross country due to his confident attitude towards work, and 'GF Flash Dance's' floating paces saw him improve rapidly in the dressage arena. At a small local competition, ridden by a 14 year old girl, 'GF Flash Dance' completed a Preliminary 1.2 dressage test, placing second to a schoolmaster by a very small percentage. He also won Best Presented Horse of the Day, due to his striking flaxen mane and tail.
 
Not to be outdone, at the 2008 Bellingen Agricultural Show, 'GF Flash Jack' was entered in two of the open Brumby Led Classes. He strode out like a champion, traveled excellently and placed third in both classes like an old campaigner, not at all fazed by the wood chopping and scary rides operating just outside the arena.
 
Both our Guy Fawkes boys are an important part of life at Valery Trails, where you are welcome to come and visit them and join us for a guided trail ride. They are two of our healthiest horses, needing only small feeds to maintain their excellent condition, and the farrier always complements them on their outstanding feet. Their motivated attitude to work and lively personalities, make them a pleasure to own.

 The Valery Team.

 

 

The Man From Snowy River-

Banjo Patterson

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast;
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony—three parts thoroughbred at least
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry—just the sort that won't say die
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, "That horse will never do
For a long and tiring gallop—lad, you'd better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you."
So he waited, sad and wistful—only Clancy stood his friend
"I think we ought to let him come," he said;
"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.

"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough;
Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."

So he went; they found the horses by the big mimosa clump,
They raced away towards the mountain's brow,
And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills."

So Clancy rode to wheel them—he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day,
no man can hold them down the other side."

When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull
It well might make the boldest hold their breath;
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint-stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the farther hill,
And the watchers on the mountain, standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely; he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.
They lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges—but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam;
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten; then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,
And where around the Overflow the reed-beds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The Man from Snowy River is a household word today,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.